Projects Selected for Funding

If your proposed project is selected for SMART Funding, you will receive both electronic (e-mail) and written notification. (That will be the Notification Date for contract purposes.) You will then work with a SMART Program representative to finalize details about the project, details that will become part of a contract between your company and CME (download the Contribution Agreement here).

Initial Payment

Once your signed contract is received back in our offices, we will send you your first payment, equal to 30% of the award amount.

For example, assume you proposed a $100,000 project and received an award of $50,000 – 50% of the project costs. Your first payment will be 30% of the award amount, or $15,000.

Supervision of Your Project

Once the contract is in place, you will need to communicate with us to keep us up-to-date on the progress of the project and the benefits you eventually experience. You will be able to contact appropriate CME staff by phone, e-mail and using the same online system you used to submit your application. In addition, the Reference you chose at the beginning of the process will continue to help keep things on track – they will also be part of the project supervision process.

Starting and Completing Your Project

Our contract requires that you start your project within 2 months of the Notification Date and finish the project no later than the date provided on the contribution agreement.
Learn more about Project Progress reporting.

Submitting Actual Expenses for Reimbursement

When the project is complete, and all of the project expenses have been documented by your company, you are ready to report them to CME for reimbursement according to the terms of the Contract.
Learn more about Expense Claims and the reimbursement process.

Reporting the Results of the Project

Once the project is finished, you have up to 6 months to conduct follow-up measurements of performance to see if the results you expected have actually been achieved. Refer to your project submission to confirm these dates.  When you report these results to CME this will trigger release of your final payment under the contract.
Learn more about Reporting Results and receiving your final payment.

Audits

Approved projects are subject to an audit at any time during the progress of the project and up to 6 years following your project completion date. Companies will be given 48 hours notice of the audit visit.  Should any information regarding your eligibility status or your project scope change, you must advise CME in writing of the changes before the completion of your project.